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©HE flNGIBNT IF^ON ^OF?I^S. 

Among the first industries which were 
established in the infancy of the Colony of Massachu- 
setts, was that of the manufacture of iron. A com- 
pany was formed in England about the year 1644, 
called "The Company Undertakers of the Iron 
Works," who set up their works at Lynn, Boston, 
Braintree, Hammersmith, and other places in New 
England. 

We only propose to investigate in this 
article, those established at Braintree. Many differ- 
ences of opinion have been held, by those who have 
written upon the subject, of the location of the works 
and the time of their erection. Rev. J. A. Vinton, 
in his memorial of the Vinton family, locates them 
on the Monatiquot rirer, in that part of Braintree 
called East Braintree, and near what is now known 
as Hobart's mill. Pr William S. Pattee, in his history 
of Old Braintree and Quin( y, locates them "on the 
Furnace Brook, a short distance south of the Catholic 
church, on Cemetery street, Wtst Quincy." After 
some years' investigation, I am satisfied that neither 



\ iiiLoii iioi I'atlco iirc correct <i.s lu ihc lucalion cjI ihc 
works, but that they were located near the corner of 
Elm and Middle streets, on the site where the facto- 
ries of "Morrison Brothers" now stand. To substan- 
tiate that jjositicjn is my object in writing this article 
f(jr the press. 

It will be remembered by the reader 
th.it the transfer of real estate was not always recor- 
ded in the early days of the colony, but according to 
a vote of the General Court, Oct. 19, 1653, it appea- 
red "that certain in this jurisdiction are apt to rest 
upon a verbal bargain or sale foi houses or lands, 
henceforth no such sale should be good in law, un- 
less made by deed in writing," and recorded. 

For many years this law was disregar- 
ded in many cases, as it often is at the present day. 
'I'his makes it more ditficult to locate the estates 
of the early settlers, than it otherwise wouhl ha\e 
been, had the deeds been recorded. 

Again the meagre description of the 
boundaries of the estates render it difficult to locate 
them. The fust mention 1 can tind of the Iron-works 
was on the " igthoi nth mo. 1643. '' (Jan. 19, 1644) 
"There was granted unto Mr. John VVinthrop, Jun'r, 
and his parteners, and to their heyres and assignes 
forever, three thousand acres of the comon land at 
Braintry, for the encouragement of an iion worke, to 



be set up about Monotocot river. The said three 
thousand acres to be layd out in tlie land next adjoyn- 
ing and most convenient for their said Iron Worke, 
by the direction of the select Townsmen." 

In accordance with the above order on 
Nov. 23, 1647, tlie selectmen of the town of Boston 
conveyed "unto the iron works, two thousand eight 
hundred and si.xtv acres of land, at Hraintree, boun- 
ded on the south and the west with Boston Commons, 
on the north by divers lots belonging to Boston, on 
the east by Weymouth lands and Weymouth pond; 
also one hundred and fortv acres of land, being boun 
(led on the south by Mr. Henry Webb's farm, Monati- 
quot river on the west, and on the north and on the 
east with certain lots of Boston as appears by the 
plot drawn up by Joshua Fisher. " 

While the description of the location of 
the above land is very indefinite, enough is shown to 
convince the reader that the general location must 
be south and west of the Monatiquot river in the 
present town of Braintree. The east line is well de- 
fined, it being bounded by Weymouth lands and Wey- 
mouth pond. The south line is shown by a deed of 
John Bass to Rev. Samuel Niles, dated January 23, 
17 1 1, or 1712 as now counted, in which is conveyed 
thirty acres of Boston Commons land being three 
shares of the firsl division of Cochato lands, bound- 



cd west on Cocluuc) river ami east i>ii the Ironworks 
land. This plainly shows the western boundary of 
the Iron-works land, as the land purchased by Rev. 
Samuel Niles was called the plantation, and is so to 
the present day. The house which he built on this 
plantation is still standing, and is i>ccupied by his 
great-great-great-grandson, N. Augustus White, and 
is situated on South street, near the Holbrook line. 
Rev. Mr. Niles himself designates the locality as 
being at Cochato, alias Beersheba. 

Again. Mary White, widow of ("apt. 
Samuel White of Weymouth, conveys to Samuel Niles, 
Clerk, Feb. 2, 1712 — 17 13, for fifty four pounds, 108 
acres, being a part of the Iron-work land, am! was 
bounded north on land of Samuel White the elder, 
west on Cochato line, south on land of Thomas Hol- 
brook, Thomas White and Samuel White the young- 
er, east on Breakneck hill road, running from a chest- 
nut oak on said road direct north 140 rods to a stake. 
Again, May 19, 1724, the selectmen of 
Braintree laid out a way from Nathaniel Thayer, Jr.'s, 
over Cranberry brook southward, and in description 
it says, that said road butts on the Iron work land. 

The house of Nathaniel Thayer, Jr., is still stand- 
ing, is owned by the Hollingsworth family, and sit- 
uated on Washington street near Cranberry brook. 

The north line I have been unable to define, but 



think it must have been as far north as Union street, 
jDcrhaps farther. 

The one hundred and forty acres must 
have been somewhere near the lower end of Middle 
street, as it was bounded on the west by Monatiquot 
river, and south on Henry Webb's farm. The only 
line of said farm I can now locate, is the westerly 
on the Monatiquot river. It must have been near 
the present residence of George H. Arnold on Mid- 
dle street. The 140 acres may have been what was 
afterwards known as the " Mill pasture, " extending 
from the line of Mrs N. Bunker, northward towards 
the river. 

We have thus described the bounds of 
the 3000 acres of land granted to John Winthrop, Jr. 
and associates, plain enough to satisfy a candid in- 
quirer that it was located between Monatiquot river 
and Weymouth line, and that it could not be located 
near Milton line as Pattee would make us believe. 

This land, which was given by the town 
of Boston, was to adjoin and be convenient to the 
Iron works would not have been located where I 
have shown, if the works had been on Furnace brook, 
at West Quincy, near Milton line, for they would 
have been compelled to carry iheir wood many miles 
over a rough way. We must then look for a more 
reasonable .>*olution of the question of the situation 

.S 



of the Iron work^> uilhiii the okl town limits. 

The "Company L ndt^itakers of the Iron 
Works," as they were called, commenced the erection 
of their works about 1644, or 1645, and continued 
their operations until they had in their possession 
property in 1653, to the amount of 666 pounds, 
which was the appraised value at their failure in that 
year. Perhaps no better history of these works can 
be found than is contained in a lease of said works 
given by certain persons in Kngland to Richard 
Thayer of Hraintree, in 1685. It is a lengthy docu 
ment, and I copy only a portion, but the main facts 
are as follows: 

"Ihis indenture, made the twentieth 
day of June, Anno Dom. 1685. between James Dewev 
of London, Esq. , and Samuel Baker .md Joseph 
Lyndsey of London, gentlemen, on the one part and 
Richard Thayer of Hraintree, New Kngland, in the 
part beyond the seas. Yeoman, of the other part: 

Whereas, Cornelius Holland, Lyonel 
Copley, William Beek, Nicholas Bond, Knianuel 
Downing, and (iualter Frost, Esquires, William 
Greenhill. Richard Babington niinisters. Robert Child 
Doctor in Fhysick, George Sharpulls merchant, and 
other their associates being well affected to the col- 
ony of New England, did in or about the year of oui 
Lord 1644. become uiukrlakcrs. and made certain 



propositions lo tiie General Court of the Massachu- 
setts there, for the raising of the Iron Works and 
making of iron; and upon full debate and consider- 
ation of the matter had encouragement from them 
to prosecute the design, and many lands, woods, waste 
grounds, privileges and advantages granted to them 
and their heirs within that jurisdiction; a^ by one 
patent under seal of said colony bearing date at 
Boston in the month of October in the said year 1644, 
and another patent bearing date the tirst day of the 
eighth month, 1646, and other grants and orders 
(to which relation being several)} had more plainly 
and at large) it doth and may appear; and whereas, 
the said undertakers with other adventurers did at 
their own proper cost and charges erect, build, and 
set up several houses, furnaces, mills and other 
buildings and works at Lynn, Braintree, Boston, 
Hammersmith, and other places in New England, 
aforesaid, and furnished the same with a large stock 
amounting in value to many thousand pounds, and 
did purchase and were possessed of a farm and lands 
which they permitted John Gifford, their agent, and 
his family to dwell in, and had also a grant of the 
town of Boston of 3000 acres of land and wood, and 
the like from the town of Lynn and other places to 
them and their heirs, and also did purchase of private 
persons, viz: of Geoige Tovex the freehold of ten 



iicre.N ut laud at or near liraiiuice, aforesaid, which 
cost them ten pounds, and of Mr. Hutchinson the 
freehold of 300 acres of other lands and tenements 
for the better carrying on and accommodating the 
said work^. &c., conveyed to Richard Thayer all 
their purchase and adventures as iron Works, &c. , 
for and during the full time of 1000 years commen- 
cing from the feast day of the nativity of St. John 
Baptist last past before the date of these presents, 
the said Richard Thayer yielding and paying yearly 
to them or their heirs one peppercorn each on the 
first day of May.'' 

I'he above instrument was witnessed in 
Boston June 8, 1686, by Edward Randolph, and then 
recorded on Suffolk records. It was probably value- 
less as the company had failed more than thirty 
years before , and their property had passed into 
other hands under due process of law. 

in order to have a correct understand- 
ing of the location of the Iron Works it will be nee 
cssary to examine the situation of the neighboring 
estates. About the year 1641, one Richard Thayer, 
who had previously immigrated to this country from 
the i)arish of Thornbury, in Gloucestershire, England, 
came to Braintree and there settled. He resided 
there about five years, when he removed to Boston, 
married Jane Parker, widow of John, about the vear 



1646, and died there before 16G8. He sold his prop- 
erty in Braintree to his son Richard, as appears by 
the following indenture: 

■'This indenture, made the liftli day of 
the seventh month. Anno Doni. 1648, (Sept. 6, 1648) 
between Richard Thayer of Boston on the one part, 
and Richard Thayer of Braintree, son of the said 
Richard of Boston, on the other part, witnesseth 
that the said Richard I'liayer of Boston for and in 
consideration of the sum of forty pounds in hand 
paid unto him by the said Richard Thayer, the son, 
&c. , sold to the son Richard one dwellin^f house 
and other housing belonging to it; one orchard, or 
garden, four acres of land lying to the house and 
upon the river Monoticot. Also, one parcel of land 
lately purchased by the said Richard, the elder, of 
Moses Paine of Braintree, upon the river Monoticot. 
Also, two and one-half acres lying between Daniel 
Lovett and James Farr in the fields at Monoticot, 
bought by the said Richard, the elder, of John Niles 
together with the lot upon which he built his house, 
and four acres adjoining on the west to the house lot 
of Richard Thayer the father, butting upon the 
river of Monoticot, bought of Dermon Downing,who 
bought it of his brother, John Downing, being part 
of a lot sold by William Cheesborough, who had it 
given unto him by the town of Boston." 



of ihc paiLics ineiiliuiicd in ihc above 
deed Moses Paine died in 1643; James I'arrin 1642; 
Dernion Downing in 1672. 

"Feb. 12, 1661, John Gurney, Taylor, 
conveyed to Richard Thayer for fourteen pounds, 
one house and orchard on which the house stands, 
five acres of land bounded south on Monoticot river; 
east on Richard Thayer, Nathaniel Mott and John 
[— ? — ]; north on Simon Crosby; west on George 
Aldridge. Also one-half acre west of the last lot, 
river on the south, highway on the north, George 
Aldrich on the east." Nathaniel Mott was killed 
by the Indians in 1675, ^^^^ George .\ldrich and 
Daniel Lorett removed. 

"June 9, 1663, George Aldridge, TayUir, 
and Katherine, his wife, conveyed to Richard Thayer 
for thirty pounds sterling, one dwelling house at 
Monoticot in JJraintree, two orchards, eight acres 
bounded east and west on Richard I'hayer, north 
on Joseph Crosby, south on Monoticot river '" 

"May 10, 1667, Lyonell Wheatley and 
Elliner, his wife, conveyed to Richard Thayer, thiriy- 
five acres granted Hugh Gunnison by the town of 
Boston and of him purchased by Evan Thom.is de- 
ceased, father of the said Elliner, and is heading on 
the land appertaining to the Iron Works." 

Kichanl 'Thaxer mortgaged to Simon 



Lynde April lo, 1668, thirty acres of land bought 
of his father, Richard, deceased; five acres of John 
Gurney; eight acres of George x'\ldrich; thirty five 
acres of Licnel Wheatley, it being the same property 
mentioned above. Sept i, 167 1, Richard Thayer 
conveyed by warrantee deed to Simon Lynde the 
same property. Oct. 29, 1678, Simon Lynde desir- 
ing a better description of the land bought in 1671; 
Richard Thayer gave him another deed with plainer 
boundaries as will be seen. 

Previous to giving the deed as a better 
description, your attention is called to a purchase 
made by Richard Thayer of John Paine, dated Sept. 
12, 1667, which was not included in the mortgaged 
estate, but which was mentioned in the confirmatory 
deed of Richaid Thayer to Simon Lynde. "John 
P. tine of Boston conveyed to Richard Thayer, Sept. 
12. 1667, dwelling house and coal house, orchards, 
tlam with the land adjoining thereto, on the north 
side of Monoticot river, part of it formerly in the 
hands of Quentin Pray, otherwise known by the 
name of the Iron Works in Braintree (excepting 
only this pasture of about six acres, and about three 
acres sold to Thomas Thayer, and four acres sold to 
Joiin Pray, and a parcel known by the name of Run- 
nels lot.) Also a parcel of land thirty acres joining 
up to the south end of his dam: Tliomas Thaver tow- 



aula llic west; I'liomab Savage luwarda llic ca^l; 
Monolicot river towards the north; and other lands 
towards the south." Quentin Pray died in 1667. 
Oct. J9, 1678, Richard Thayer gave 
another deed to Simon Lynde, as before mentioned. 
"He conveys twenty Jive acres formerly my father 
Richard's land, formerly Moses Paine's, bounded 
north upon the highway leading to the Monoticot 
river; south on the said river; east on Samuel Hayden 
and Alexander Plumley; being near the form of a 
triangle. 'I'vventy live acres: hve acres bought of 
John Gurney, two five acre lots of my father Richard, 
two live acre lots of George Aldridge. bounded south 
on Monoticol river, east with Zechariah Thayer, north 
with Joseph Adams, west with land formerly of Quen- 
tin Pray. Also, thirty five acres bought of Lionel 
Wheatley, bounded north on Caleb Hobart, I'homas 
'i'hayer and John Paine formerly, east on W'llli.im 
Penn, south on Samuel While and west on Monoticot 
river. Also, forty acres bought of John Paine, boun- 
ded north on Monoticot river, east on Caleb Hobart 
south on the land formerly Lionel Wheatley, and 
west on Thomas 'Thayer. Also, one and one-half 
acres of land which John Paine deemed as belong- 
ing to the Iron Works and comprised in the fore- 
mentioned lands sold by him unto me, although duly 
and properly belonging U) the lands of my father. 



Richard Thayer, and by him sold unto me and never 
alienated to the owners of the Iron Works, but only 
licensed and permitted to them of the Iron Works, 
during his pleasure, to occupy some part thereof, 
the more to advance his lands adjoining to the same, 
which one and one-half acres is bounded south on 
Monoticot river; east on the five acres formerly John 
Downam's; north with the highway to Monoticot 
river; west with a highway from Monoticot highway 
down to ihe mill dam; together with all housing, 
barns, buildings, corn mill, saw mill, fulling mill, and 
erectments. " From this deed we can see where the 
Iron Works were located. The southerly boundary 
was Monoticot river; the northerly, the street now 
called Elm street, but in 1678, Monoticot highway; 
the westerly now called Middle street, then the way 
to the mill dam. 

Previous to 1690, there was nothing 
but a cart path into the woods and fields over the 
Monoticoi river from the street now called Elm street. 
In that year the selectmen laid out the northern 
portion of Middle street as far south as Walnut street, 
according to the Braintree records: "'May the 21, 
1690. There being complaint made by Thomas 
Thayer, Jr., that the way from his dwelling house, 
over the dam into the country road was fenced up 
in two places and several of the neighbors desiring 

13 



ilc-^iriiij^ tu liavc tli.il w.i\ laiil out tuilhcr lluui il liail 
furnierly been for an outlet into the- vacant lancl.s. 
and for their convenience in cominj^ to meeting and 
mill, we, the Selectmen of Hrainlree, tiiis 21.:? of 
May, 1690, went to the phice .ind opened the w.iy 
formerly laid out, till we came ne.ir Richard Thayer, 
jr.'s house, and from thence till we come to the cart 
way at the corner of John St.iples' land within fence."' 

The Richard Thascr. ]f. , was the son 
of Richard, the si;n of Richard the immigrant, and 
probably resided on the spot now owned by (i. H. 
Arnold. John .Staples tnvned the land of T. H. 
Libbv, which extended from Middle street to the 
river. Soon after 1690, he removetl to Tauntcjn. 
where his descendants still reside. The Wheatlev 
lot of thirty-five acres was evidently on the south side 
of the Monoticot river, about River street; the land 
of Thomas Thayer on the north side of said street, 
it being the place formerly known as the Penniman 
place, and recently surveyed and a portion of it sold 
by Edward Reed . 

'The Iron Work.*,, in 16SS, .ippears to 
be in the possession of Christopher Webb, senior, 
millwright, who with Hannah his wife conveyed on 
.April I itk. of that year, to John Holbrook of Wey- 
mouth, housewright, for 180 pounds, all tlieir corn 
mill, mill pond, waters, water courses, dam, banks, 

•4 



one and oiie-luilf acre of land with barn tliereon; 
bounded north and west on the highway, south on 
the river, east with Simon Lynde. This seems to be 
the same lot of land which John I^aine deemed be- 
longing to tiie Iron Works, although claimed by 
Richard 'I'haycr as before mentioned. 

lune 1, 1697, John Holbrook of Wey- 
mouth sold to John Webb of Braintree, son of Christ- 
opher, senior, for 228 pounds, grist or corn mill, one 
and one-half acres of land adjoining, near said mill, 
orchard and barn, bounded north and west by the 
highway, south by the river, east by Simon Lynde; 
being the same property conveyed in 1688 by the 
father of John to the said Holbrook. The same prop- 
erty, together with additional, in 1752, was conveyed 
to Ebenezer Thayer, Jr., by Samuel Hayden and 
Esther, his wife, in the deed of which it says that it 
was part of the homestead of John Webb, late of 
Braintree, consisting of twelve and three-quarters 
acres of land, the west end of dwelling house in 
which said Webb lived, and the garden adjoining, 
barn, shop, two thirds of the grist mill; all standing 
on the aforesaid land; two-thirds of the pond, dam, 
&c. One piece bounded southwest on land laid out 
to Widow Mary Webb, relict of John Webb; southeast 
on land of Rev. Samuel Niles; east on Elkanah 
Wales, north on the river and land of Zcchariah 



Thayer, and so running northwest by said Zechariah 
Thayer, to the town way between said house and 
mill. The other piece on which the barn stands, 
bounded northwest on town way aforesaid; southwest 
on a town way leading over said mill dam; southeast 
on the flume; northeast on a lane leading from said 
house to the said grist mill. 

The Ebenezer Thayer, Jr. who was the 
grantee named in the above deed, was the father of 
Samuel Miller Thayer and Atherton 'Thayer, who 
inherited the mill privilege after the death of their 
father, and it was sold by them or their heirs; about 
the year 1832, it came into the hands of .-\lva Mor- 
rison, and his heirs now improve it. 

From the foregoing and other deed.-, 
which are on the records, it appears that there were 
quite a number of houses at an early dale, built upon 
the rising ground called at that time Monoticot fields, 
situated on the north side of the river, and extending 
from what is now Middle street along Elm street to 
the easterly side of the brook, which crosses the 
way near the junction of old and new Elm street. 
Tradition says that about the year 1675, there 
was a garrison house situated on the westerly slope 
of said land, just beyond said brook, and on a path 
formerly beginning near the old Hannah Clark house, 
crossing the field to Elm street near the brook. 

i6 



Richard Thayer occupied the garrison house. Be- 
tween that and Middle street were the dwellings, 
probably, of Moses Paine, James Farr, Daniel Lov- 
ett. )ohn Niles, John Downing, Nathaniel Mott, 
George Aldridge and John Gurney. On the westerly 
slope of the hill on old Elm street was situated the 
house of John French. 

Other evidence shows that the Iron 
Works were situated at this place. The appraise- 
ment of the property at their failure in 1653, gives 
the names by which the several lots were known. 

Tayer's lot (Thayer) 1 acre, 17 rods, is probably 
the same as the 1 1-2 acres mentioned in the con- 
firmatory deed of Richard Thayer to Simon Lynde. 

William Penn owned land in the immediate vicin- 
ity and the appraisal mentions Penns lot as seventy 
eight acres. We then have Old Ruggles lot of twen- 
ty acres; the situation of this lot is established beyond 
a doubt from the following evidence, ''Sept. 29, 
1645, George Ruggles of Braintree, conveys to Rich- 
ard Leader, in behalf of the Company Undertakers 
of the Iron Work, twenty acres, lying in Braintree, 
bounded with Monotocot river north, Isaac Shelly 
east, Hugh Gunnison south, Francis Newcomb west." 
Lovett's house lot, forty one rods, was no doubt 
the one alluded to in ihe deed of Richard Thayer, 
Sen., to his son Richard. 



Recent discoveries show that there 
must have been Ironworks on this spot. The Mor- 
rison Brothers dug a well a few years ago on the prem- 
ises, and found a vein of iron slag below the surface 
of the ground, which evidently had remained undis- 
turbed for many years. When the pipes of the Brain- 
tree Water Supply Company were laid on Adams 
street, nearly opposite to the factory of the Morrisons, 
the workmen, who dug the trench, found three bars 
of iron, four feet and four inches below the surface. 

Not knowing the value of these ancient relics,they 
sold them to a junk man who came along at the time. 
Further investigation may reveal other 
deeds which would throw light on the subject; but 
I feel satisfied from the above records that the Mor- 
rison mills are situated on the spot where the tirsl 
Iron Works were located, about the year 1644. 

In answer to an inquiry I have received, 
as to whether I could find any evidence of the loca 
tion being near the east part of the town, as tradition 
says, 1 would say that I have not found a particle. 

On the contrary I do not think it could be situated 
there, as a large tract of land was bought in i648,b\ 
Sanmel Allen, on the norih side of Monatiquot river 
and nearly opposite that jjortion of the river where 
tradition says the dam was located. No allusion is 
made to Samuel .\Ilcn in any of the deeds, so far as 

iS 



J have tound. In 1O82, ui" suun after, John Hub- 
bard buih a dam and started a forge on that por- 
tion of the Monatiquot river, which lies below the 
iron Works bridge, and about that time bought 
land of foseph Allen, sun of Samuel, the first of 
the Aliens who settledin Braintree. Samuel Allen 
died in August, 1669, and his youngest son Joseph 
inherited his property, and resided on the same. 
This is probabl}- tiie Iron Works of 
tradition, and was afterwards in the possession (jI 
Tliomas Vinton. 



m~^ 



APPENDIX. 

In the examination of this and other 
papers, left by the late Samuel A. Bates, for the pur- 
pose of preparing them for publication, the following 
seemed to be of interest in connection with the fore- 
going pages, inasmuch as they are corroborative of 
the conclusions therein arrived at. 

The results of his investigations of the 
matter were made public in 1889, and created some 
comment among historians, as they were directly at 
variance with the statements of previous writers. 

In 1892, however, Hon. Robert IJ. 
Winthrop communicated to the Massachusetts Hist- 
orical Society, {(ProGsedings, Oct. (Sf J^ov. 1S9S.), ex- 
tracts from the diary of John Winthrop, Jr. who was 
one of the promoters of these Iron Works. 

It is a record of a journey from Boston 
to Connecticut commenced Nov. n, 1645 and ended 
Dec. 5, as follows: viz. 

"Dec. 4. Thursday. Waded over Naponset, the 
tree being carried away by the thaw fiood also 
another little river before. A third made a bridge 

20 



over, felling a small tree. Passed over Monotaquid 
at twilight. Came by the direction of the noise of 
the falls to the forge. Lodged at Th. Facksons. Mr. 
Holifes farmer. (Foot J^otes. He probably crossed 
the Monatiquot in South Braintree, having come by 
way of Canton, crossing the Neponset river near its 
source. Faxon had been for some time a tenant 
farmer on the estate of Atherton Hough, and in 1656 
bought of his son, Rev. Samuel Hough, four hundred 
and fifty acres of land in Braintree. The site of his 
house was about half a mile distant from Morrison's 
mills. It was undoubtedly at this house that John 
Winthrop passed the night.)" 

During a visit to England, in 1642, 
John Winthrop, Jr., had persuaded a number of his 
friends to invest money in this undertaking, and, at 
the outset, acted as their agent. Among his papers 
was found the draft of a petition to Parliament set- 
ting forth that, in May, 1643, he "at great costs and 
charges did imbarque himselfe in the good ship An 
Cleave of London, w^'i many workmen, servants, & 
materialls for the said setting up of iron workes". 

Soon after his arrival in New England, 
he, with his miners, visited "Braintre, Greeneharbour 
[Marshtield], Plimouth, Richman Hand [Richmond Is 
land, near Cape Elisabeth, Me.], "and along the shore 
between that place and Massachusetts, having heard 



that there was ore at "'Pascataway [Portsmouth], Ag- 
maenticus [York]. Sako [Saco], & Blackpoint [Scar- 
borouj,^h]." At many of these places he found iron 
ore, but on account of the scarcity of laborers, and 
inferioritv of the ore, he preferred Braintree, where 
these difficulties did not exist. He writes early in 
1644: "Although this place at Braintre — was princi" 
pally in my thoughts — both before I went into Eng- 
land and since my last arrivall here, for the fittest 
and most convenient place for the first setting up of 
an Iron worke; yet being a worke of consequence, I 
conceived it necessary to have other places searched. 
— This sort of ore at Braintre is of the same sorte 
wci> they call in Ireland the Bogge mine. We have 
tried it since we came over, — and the finer hath made 
good iron; that w^,, we sent into England was made 
of that from Braintre. — Therefore necessity seemes to 
drive us to accept of this place." 

In the same volume from which the 
last two exracts were made, we find the following 
letter from the Promoters of the Iron Works in 
England, as follows: 

Tu our worthy friend John Winthrop Junior Esq'r, in 
J<few England, present these. 

London, 4. yunij 164.5. 
Sr, — According to what we have formerly written 
unto you we now send over our agent, Mr. Richard 



Leader, with full power & instructions from us to un- 
dertake & p'ceed in our affaires there. Wee doe 
heartilie desire yo'' help & assistance to him therein, 
which (with that you also have done alreadie for us) 
wee shalbee thankfull to you for. Wee also pray 
you to deliver him an accompt of all the moneys that 
you have received & disbursed for us, and to deliver 
unto M'' Leaders hands & custodie all such materiall, 
stock & other things as any way belong to the gen- 
erall stock, according to o'' instructions given to M'' 
Leader in this behalfe; whose acknowledgm' under 
his hand for what he shall receive from you shalbe 
yo"" sufficient discharge in that behalfe. Thus wt'> 
hearty applica'con of yo'' welfare we rest 

Yo"" assured loving friends, 

NicH. Bond. Robert Child. 

Tho. Weld, Robert Houghton, 

LioNELL Copley. Thomas Foley. 
Jo: PococK. Joshua Foote. 

Geo. Sharpulls. 
{Foot JTote. Leader had been concerned in 
mining operations in Ireland. For a letter from 
Emmanuel Downing about him, see Jf Jdass. Hist. 
Qoll, Vol vi pp. 61, 6S.) 

At the February meeting of the Quincy 
Historical Society, in 1895, the author of the fore 

23 



going pages these facts, showing that Richard Leader 
did not come to this couiury until 1645, ''''"^ dispos 
ingof the claim that the first iron works in this coun- 
try were set up by said Leader in Saugus, a suburb 
of Lynn, in 1642; and a study of the references con- 
tained in these pages, will prove that he was not 
here before that date, as he was then engaged in the 
same work in Ireland; moreover, the indenture, on 
page 6, shows thai the works at Saugus were simply 
an adjunct to those at Braintree, both of them being 
under control of the same company. 



JJote hy the Editor. 

I desire /lere, to aoknowledg-e my obliga- 
tions to Messrs. I^oberi C Winthrop, Charles Francis 
Jldams, and to Wiiliam G. tipear, librarian of the 
Quinoy Historioai Society, for their kind assis:tanoe in 
preparing- these pages, and for their permission to use 
extracts from their works. 



INDEX 

Adams, Joseph, land of. 12 

Agamenticus. 22 

Aldrich, or Aldridge, George. 10, 11, 12, 17 

Katherine. 10 
Allen, Samuel, land of. 18, 19 

Joseph. " ig 

Appendi.x. 20 
Arnold, George H. 5, 14 
Babington, Richard, one of owners. 6 
Baker, Samuel, one of owners. 6 
Bass, John, land of. 3 
Beek, William, one of owners. 6 
Beersheba. 4 
Blackpoint. 22 
Bog ore. 22 
Boston, works at. i, 7 

Grant to Cheesborough. 9 

" Iron-works. 3 

Commons, deeded to Niles. 3 
Bond, Nicholas, one of owners. 6, 23 
Breakneck hill. 4 
Bunker, Mrs. N. 5 
Cheesborough, William, grant to. 9 
Child, Ur. Robert, one of owners. 6, 22 

25 



Clark, H.iniiali. house. i6 
Cochato. 3 

Copley, Lyonel. one of owners. 6, 22 
Crosby, Simon, land of . 10 
Joseph. " 10 

Cranberry brook. 4 
Dewey, James, one of owners. 6 
Deeds. 2, 3, 4, 6. 9, 10, 11, 12 
Downing, Dermon, land of. 9, 10 
John. " 9, 17 

Emmanuel, one of owners, t 
Downam, John, land of. 13 
England, iron sent to. 22 
Farr, James, land of. 9, 10, 17 
Faxon, Th. house of. 21 
First mention in records. 2 
First iron made at Braintree. 22 
Fisher, Joshua, plot drawn by. 3 
Fittest place for iron- works. 22 
Foley, Thomas, one of owners. 23 
Foote, Joshua, one of owners. 23 
French, John, land of. 17 
Frost, Gualter. one of owners. 6 
Furnace brook, Quincy. i 
Garrison house, location of. 16 
Gifford, John, agent of works. 7 
Greenhill, William, one of owners. 6 
Greeneharbour, 21 
Gunnison, Hugh, land of. 10, 17 
Gurney, John, land of. 10, 11, 12, 17 
Hammersmith, works at. 1, 7 

26 



Hayden, Samuel, land of. 12. 15 

Esther. " 15 

Hobait, Caleb. " 12 

Mill. I 
Hofte or Hough, Atherton. farm. 2r 

Samuel, sold to Faxon. 21 
Holbrook, John, land of. 14. 15 

Thomas, " 4 

Holland, (Jornelius. one of owners. 6 
Hollingsworth. land of. 4 
Houghton, Robert, one of owners. 23 
Hubbard, John, forge, ig 
Hun net's lot. 11 
Hutchinson, Mr., land of. 8 
Leader, Richard, agent of works. 17, 23, 24 
Letter from the promoters. 22 
Libby, T.H , land of. 14 
Location of other works, i 
Lovett, Daniel, land of. g, 10, 17 
Lynn, works at. i, 7 

claims. 24 
Lynde, Simon, land of. 11, 15, 17 
Lyndsey, Joseph, one of owners. 6 
Mott, Nathaniel, land of. 10, 17 
Mill Pasture. 5 
Marshfield, ore at. 21 
Morrison's mill. 2, 18, 21 

Monoticot or Monatiquot river. 1, 3, 5, g, 10, 11, 12, 

13, 14, 17, 18, 21 

Fields. 16 

Highway. 13 

27 



Newconib, Francis, land of 17 
Niles, Rev. Samuel, land of. 3, 4, 15 

John. " 9, 17 

Parker, Jane, marriage. 8 

John, father of Jane. 8 
Paine, Moses, land of. 9, 10, 12, 17 

John. " II, 12, 15 

Pascataway, ore at. 22 
Pattee, Dr. William S. History of Bfaintree, 
Penn, William, land of. 12, 17 
Penniman place. 14 
Petition to Parliament. 21 
Plumley, Alexander land of. 12 
Plymouth, ore at. 21 
Pocock, Jo: one of owners. 22 
Portsmouth, ore at. 22 
Pray, Quentin. land of . 11, 12 

John, " 1 1 

Randolph, Edward, witness of indenture. 
Reed, Edward, land of. 14 
Richmond island, ore at. 21 
Ruggles, George, land of. 17 
Saco, Maine, ore at. 22 
Saugus. works at. 24 
Savage, Thomas, land of. 12 
Scarborough, Maine ore at. 22 
Sharpulls, George, one of owners. 6, 2^ 
Shelley, Isaac, land of. 17 
Staples, John. " 14 

Street, Adams. 18 

Elm. 13, 16, 17 

28 



Street, Middle. 5, 13, '6, 17 
River. 14 
Union. 5 
Walnut. 13 
Thayer, Atherton. land of. 16 

BLbenezer. Jr. " 15. '^ 
Nathaniel, Jr. •' 4 
Richard. " 6, 8, 9, 10 

Samuel Miller." 16 
Thomas. " H) i^) »3 

Zechariah. " 12, 16 
Thomas, Evan, land of. 10 
Tovey, George. " 7 

Vinton, Rev. J. A., i 

Thomas, iron-works. 19 
Wales, Elkanah. land of. 15 
Weld, Tho. one of owners. 23 
Webb, Christopher, land of. I4> '5 
Henry. " 5, 5 

Hannah. " H 

John. " 15 

Mary. " '5 

Weymouth, lands. 3 
pond. 3 
West Quincy. works at. i 
White, N. Augustus, land of. 4 
Mary. " 4 

Samuel. " '^ 

Thomas. " 4 

Wheatley, Lyonell. " 10, n, 12, H 

Elliner. " 1° 

29 



Winthiop, John Jr., founder of works. 2, 20, 21, 22 

Diary. 20 
York, Maine, ore at. 22 




I 



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Bates, S. A. Ancient Iron Works at Braintree. 

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